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SYRIA ::: QASR AL HAYR & RESAFEH
Qasr al Hayr Qasr al Hayr Qasr al Hayr Qasr al Hayr Qasr al Hayr
The desert castle - Qasr al Hayr - views from the east
Qasr al Hayr - Western Enclosure Gates Qasr al Hayr - Western Enclosure Qasr al Hayr - Western Enclosure Qasr al Hayr - Western Enclosure Qasr al Hayr - Western Enclosure
West Enclosure Ruins inside the Western Enclosure
Qasr al Hayr - Western Enclosure Qasr al Hayr - Western Enclosure
Inside the Western Enclosure
Resafeh - View from the walls Resafeh - View from the walls Resafeh - View from the walls Resafeh - View from the walls Resafeh - Gallery inside the walls
Resafeh - Views across the site from the walls Inside the wall
Resafeh - The Metropolitan Church Resafeh - The Metropolitan Church Resafeh - The Metropolitan Church Resafeh - The Metropolitan Church Resafeh - The Metropolitan Church
Resafeh - Ruins of The Metropolitan Church
Resafeh - The Metropolitan Church Resafeh - The Metropolitan Church Resafeh - Khan Resafeh - The Cathedral Resafeh - The Cathedral
Resafeh - The Metropolitan Church Resafeh - Khan Resafeh - The Cathedral
Resafeh - 5th Century Church Resafeh - 5th Century Church Resafeh - 5th Century Church Resafeh - Capital Resafeh - Pilgrims Lodging
Resafeh - 5th Century Church Capital Pilgrim's Lodgings

Qasr al Hayr & Resafeh - Notes

"Qasr al Hayr ash Sharqi" is an Omayyad period (8th century) castle/palace complex about 120km north-east of Palmyra - one of two such palace complexes in the area. These were probably built to give the caliphs in Damascus a 'country retreat' where they would have had a bit more scope for fun than in the rather conservative environs of Damascus.
Resafeh (also known as Resapha or Sergiopolis) is about 150km further north across open desert. This was the site of martyrdom of the Roman soldier St Sergius (one of the many saints who achieved their martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian).
More extensive details and notes to the individual pictures will follow soon.